Patent GB-1261084-A (GB)
Title: Book trimming machine and method of use
IPC: B26D7/06
Filed: 1969-06-10
Abstract: 1,261,084. Book trimming machines. HARRIS-INTERTYPE CORP. 10 June, 1969 [18 June, 1968], No. 29363/69. Heading B4B. A machine 30 for trimming the edges of a book comprising a knife blade 106 mounted for actuation on a first reciprocable table 88 and arranged to trim one edge, at least one additional knife blade 109 for trimming at least one further edge and mounted on a second reciprocable table 91 means being provided for reciprocating the tables in a substantially horizontal path, in synchronism and substantially 180 degrees out of phase. The table 88 is supported on four links 92, 93, Figs. 1 and 12, pivoted at their lower ends on the base 94 of the machine thereby constraining the table to move in a substantially horizontal path. The second table is also mounted for similar movement on four links 96, 97, Figs. 1 and 12. The tables 88, 91 are actuated by means of crankshafts 101 and 102 respectively, the crank-shaft 101 being connected to the links 92 by draw links 103 and the crank-shaft 102 to the links 96 by draw links 104. As shown in Fig. 12 the crank-shafts are positioned 180 degrees out of phase thereby reducing vibration and facilitating the feed of the books through the machine. In order to reduce the inertia effects, the links 92 are connected together at their lower ends by a torsion tube device (Fig. 13, not shown). The knife blade 106 for trimming the front edge of the book is actuated by means of draw links 107 mounted on the crank-shaft 101 and co-operates with a blade 95 fixed to the table 88. As shown, a pair of knives 109 are mounted on the second table 91 and are reciprocated by means draw links 108 mounted on the crank-shaft 102. The book is clamped adjacent the knife 106 by means of clamps 146, Fig. 14, which are raised and lowered by means of links 147 connected to arms 153; the arms are actuated by links 152 (Fig. 18) which are pivotally connected to arms 154 adapted to be operated by cams 156 on a rotatable shaft 129. The book is located by backstops (133, Fig. 15) prior to clamping, the stopbeing raised and lowered cyclically by a cams and-link device (134, 135, 136, 142). The books are fed initially towards the front-edge cutting knife 106 by means of lugs 32 pivotally mounted on chains 31 movable along an in-feed table 30a, Fig. 2. At the start of its travel along the table, the book is engaged by a number of endless bands (36), (Fig. 4), rotatable on rollers (37, 38) the rollers being mounted above the surface 33 of the table 30a and inclined to the direction of travel of the book so as to cause the latter to be urged into contact with a guide 34, Figs. 2 and 3; in a modification the book may be moved into contact with the guide by means of a jogging device (Figs. 30 to 32, not shown). During this feeding movement the books are engaged by the bristles of a brush 50, Fig. 3. In order to accurately bring a book into contact with the backstops (133) the last part of the feed is effected by pushers 72, Fig. 6, mounted on a carriage 73 which is slidable on guide tracks. The carriage is reciprocated by means of an arm 82 in contact with a cam 85 and connected to the carriage by a link 83. The guide tracks  are pivoted on a shaft (74a, Fig. 8) and are raised and lowered, in order to bring the pusher below the surface 33 of the table during their return stroke, by means of a cam (76). In order to adjust the phase relationship between the pushers 72 and the lugs 32 on the chains, the arm 82 is mounted on an eccentric shaft 78 whose position can be varied by a handle 79; also, a sprocket 60, Fig. 6, for the chain drive may be angularly adjusted on its shaft 61 by a differential-gear drive 64, 65, 67, the gears being movable about the axis of the shaft 61 by a lever 66 actuated by movement of the eccentric shaft 78. A gap, between the front knife 106 and the end of the in-feed table, through which trimmings fall into a shoot 119 is covered during feeding of the book to the backstops 133 by a gate (120, Fig. 16). The gate is mounted on rails (121) which are reciprocated by means of cams (124) and pivoted levers (126). After the front edge of the book has been trimmed the latter is moved on to the table 91 for trimming the side edges of the book. This is effected by means of a pair of upper and lower endless belts 162 and 203 respectively, the upper belt being arranged to pass over pulleys 158, 163, 164 and 165. The pulley 158 is mounted on a support 159, 160 which is pivotally mounted on a frame 193. The belt passes over pressure plates 181, 189, the plate 181 being secured at one end to the support 159 and at the other end to a support 182, the latter being urged downwardly by a lever-andspring device 18 so as to cause the plate to engage the belt. The plate 189 is also connected at one end to the bracket 182 and at the other end to the arm 190 of a support (191, Fig. 22) which is pivoted on a shaft 192 fixed to the frame 193; the level of the plate 189 can be adjusted by means of a lever-and-screw device (199, 196, Fig. 22). The support 159, 160 is pivoted about a shaft 161 by means of a rod 175, arm 176 and a cam (180, Fig. 21) in order to allow the book to pass under the belt 162 when the book is being pushed against the backstops 133. The arm 190 is connected via a rod 202 to an arm (172, Fig. 21) which is actuated by a cam (173) in order to bring the belt, supported by the plate 189, into or out of engagement with the book. Tension is cyclically applied to the belt by means of a pulley 164 being moved into and out of contact with the belt via a lever 167 and the cam (173). During the trimming of the head and foot edges of the book by the knives 109, the book is clamped by means clamps (225, Fig. 27) raised and lowered by means of rods (231) connected to a pivoted arm (233) which is actuated by a cam (156, Fig. 19). The trimmings from the knives 109 are arranged to fall into a receiver (235, Fig. 19). The distance between the knives 109 can be adjusted by means of a screw (223, Fig. 26) and hand wheel (222).